The comparison and relationship of social support and stress with life satisfaction among the elderly of Khorramabad city in 2013

Elderly is a worldwide problem which at a near future will be considered as one of the most important social and welfare challenges in developing countries. Therefore in this research social support and life satisfaction of the elderly resident in sanatorium compared with those living with family. This analytic-epidemiologic study carried out on 120 male and female elders (60 in sanatorium and 60 in home) selected by systematic and cluster random method. For measuring life satisfaction, Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (LSQ) (with reliability 0.89) and for social support, Social Support and Stress Scale (SSSS) were used. Data were analyzed using correlation and U Mann-Whitney by SPSS 20 software. The results showed a positive and significant correlation (r=0.746, p<0.05) between social support and life satisfaction and stress had the revers and significant relation (r=-0.383, p<0.05) with life satisfaction. Also results showed that indexes of life satisfaction, stress and social support have a significant different in elders resting in sanatorium and family (p<0/05). Based on the results, social support and coping with stress especially family stress cause increasing life satisfaction level in elders.